Latest news with #OzarkCenter
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
JPD's co-responder unit saves $950K yearly with new approach
JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin City Council learns about early successes of a new program at the police department. It's called the Joplin Police Department Co-Responder Unit or CRU. The program started back in October. The goal is to address social and behavioral health concerns, and to separate those dealing with a crisis and those committing an actual crime. During a work session Monday (6/9), council heard a presentation by Joplin Police Chief, Dr. Richard Pearson and others, regarding the success of the CRU program. CRU now has three full-time employees, thanks to a partnership with Ozark Center. It's expected to save at least $950,000 annually, through reduced hospitalizations, decreased jail bookings, and time saved by police officers who can now focus their efforts on issues involving crime. 'If we can keep a person from being homeless, if we can keep that person from being in the emergency room, if we can get that person housed, if we can get that person back up and running and becoming a productive member of society again, instead of that person committing crimes,' said Dr. Pearson. 'You know, two groups of people who can't say no are those who run ERs and those who have a jail. So, it's incredibly important that we're able to show that not only are we doing the right thing and that we can feel good as a community about doing the right thing, but that it's also fiscally responsible,' said Ozark Center Chief Clinical Officer, Del Camp. The JPD Co-Responder Unit is currently operating on grant funding. However, following Monday's presentation, council directed city staff to find room in the budget to keep the program operating and growing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Concerns rise over AI's role in mental health therapy
(KODE & KSN) — The overlap of artificial intelligence into mental health therapy is a growing field, with both promise and concern. Some patients have turned to A.I. to work through their challenges. Del Camp with the Ozark Center says that can be a good thing… within limits. He says that should only apply to A.I. which is designed for mental health – pointing to one app called 'Woebot' And he adds usage should limited to milder cases for things like depression or anxiety, with more significant issues handled by human practitioners. 'It's like a brilliant child that still needs a parent there to make sure it's not saying things that are full of hubris. Not full of actual wisdom and understanding. And so, it's got some… it, it is capable of doing it, but you still need a professional at this point. For the more severe cases, you still need a professional to make sure it stays on a professional and well-grounded track,' said Del Camp, Ozark Ctr, Chief Clinical Ofc. Camp says A.I. is also helping therapists make better use of their time, handling basic tasks like making notes from a session. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dunking for bird seed: Local business hosts special event for a good cause
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Employees at a Carthage business were willing to take a dip today in order to help senior citizens enjoy nature. Midwest Ag Supply gave people the chance to donate money for a chance to dunk one of its employees. The money raised will be used to buy bird seed to donate to area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Owner Erin Day says her husband Darrell got the idea after seeing posts on Facebook asking for bird seed for someone in an assisted living facility. She says she knows how much people enjoy watching birds through her experiences with her own family. Dunking for bird seed: Local business hosts special event for a good cause Jasper County property owners receiving 2025 Value Change Notices: What you need to know Jasper Casa and Ozark Center team up for community service Vision Carthage launches beautification project starting with mural restoration Ex-firefighter charged with involuntary manslaughter turns himself in to police 'My great-grandmother for many many years and one of her favorite pastimes was sit there and watch the birds, grow her tomatoes,' said Day. Day also told us they'd love to collect enough money to buy 10 bags of bird they're thinking about doing the dunk tank again. Folks who like to make a donation can simply stop by the store — it's located at 115 Grant Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Jasper Casa and Ozark Center team up for community service
JOPLIN, Mo. — Food, fun and friendship for some kids in the foster care system Thursday evening. Ozark Center employees were instrumental in bringing a Taco Thursday to kids at Jasper County CASA. The organization is celebrating 60-years this year — and, for the month of May, has implemented a 60-minutes more initiative — where employees are encouraged to give back an hour more of their time than they normally do to the community. Graveside ceremony commemorates life of local Tuskegee Airman Joplin tornado victims honored with sculpture transfer ceremony Flags honor veterans' graves in annual Memorial Day tradition City of Joplin plans mosquito control efforts Missouri man seeking justice after assault by gang of motorcyclists Ozark Center CEO, Vicky Mieseler is also a board member for Jasper County CASA. 'Jasper County CASA is a stakeholder of Ozark Center. We collaborate a lot on the children that are served at CASA. We serve a lot of the same children, so it's a really good opportunity for us to stay involved in what's happening at CASA, and for CASA to stay involved with what's happening at Ozark Center, as well. It takes a village for all these kids,' said Mieseler. Tonight was also exercise night at CASA — so the kids also got to work off some of that good food. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Roger Koch, with Ozark Center, honored as 2025 Mental Health Champion
Roger Koch, a U.S. Army veteran who oversees Ozark Center's Veteran Integration Program, was recently named a 2025 Mental Health Champion by the Missouri Mental Health Foundation. Koch was one of three winners chosen from a pool of nearly 50 nominees. The award was presented May 1 at the Foundation's banquet in Jefferson City. Missouri Mental Health Champions are people who make positive contributions to their community, and whose actions have increased independence in others with similar mental health conditions. Koch was recognized for his one-on-one work with military veterans struggling with mental health issues, primarily post-traumatic stress disorder. He served in the U.S. Army from 1985-2005, including an 18-month combat deployment to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and returned with PTSD symptoms. After retiring from the military in 2005, he said in a statement: 'I chose to do what most combat veterans do, and that's to bottle everything up and cope with things the best way I knew." He said he kept his PTSD struggles bottled up inside for 14 years before his wife suggested he seek professional treatment. 'I must admit, asking for help was a huge first step for me,' Koch said in a statement. 'You figure, throughout my military career, it had been overly emphasized that a veteran should never ask for help or need assistance; it was considered a weakness if you did. Once I finally let my guard down and talked openly to mental health professionals, it didn't take them very long to diagnose me with anxiety, anger issues, depression and PTSD.' It was around this time that he earned of Ozark Center's search for a local veteran to lead its VIP program, working with other veterans and their mental struggles. Due to his veteran status, and because he's familiar with PTSD's destructive and disruptive power, he discovered it was easy for him to connect with the veterans he counseled. 'Being a veteran seems to make the conversations more open,' Koch said. 'I'm not sure if it's because of the 'trusting another veteran' thing or being able to speak and understand the military jargon. Nonetheless, veterans tend to open up easier to other veterans."
